GSR strategy
Strategy for Government Social Research
The Government Social Research Unit has developed a strategy for Government Social Research, in consultation with departments and other interested parties in government as well as the wider research community.
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the full strategy (PDF, 94KB)
Key points are:
What is Government Social Research?
- GSR draws on the discipline of social science to provide analysis
for policy, using data to inform policy debate.
- Social research commissioned and conducted by government uses the methods
of social scientific enquiry including surveys, qualitative research,
analysis of administrative and statistical data, case studies, controlled
trials and others.
- We use these methods to measure, describe, explain and predict social
and economic structures. In doing so, GSR seeks to find out about social
attitudes, values and behaviours, and the factors which motivate and constrain
individuals and groups in society.
Purpose of the Government Social Research service
The Government Social Research service exists to:
- provide government with objective, reliable, relevant and timely social
research
- support the development, implementation, review and evaluation of policy
and delivery
- ensure policy debate is informed by the best research evidence and thinking
from the social sciences.
Critical Success Factors For GSR
- GSR must take a strategic approach to research planning. This is to
ensure government has the research information it needs to inform current
policy thinking and anticipate future policy needs.
- Social research commissioned and conducted by government must be of
a high technical standard. It must draw on the most appropriate and up
to date techniques and must be conducted, analysed and disseminated in
accordance with accepted professional and ethical standards.
- GSR members have a duty to abide by the professional codes of the social
research profession. As civil servants, they must also abide by the Civil
Service Code.
- The role and expertise of GSR should be understood and valued by the
internal policy making community and Ministers, and by other analytical
professions in government. Our role and expertise should also be respected
by the wider research and academic community.
- GSR should be proficient in the techniques of social research, evaluation
and analysis and be equipped to play a full role in policy analysis.
- The social research function in Departments should be positioned and
organised in a way that most effectively supports policy, strategy and
delivery.
- Social research should be readily accessible to potential users within
government. In each broad area of government policy, there should be a
clear and shared understanding of what the research evidence shows and
where the gaps in knowledge are.
- GSR should be equipped to support policy and delivery colleagues in
making full use of social research.
- GSR must work closely with other social science professionals in government,
to maximise effective use of its combined resources and skills.
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